Pitcher List is excited to be partnering with FantasyDraft, featuring advice articles every morning through the entirety of the 2018 season. Signup and play for free at FantasyDraft.
What’s up everybody! We’ve got just one FantasyDraft slate for us on this Monday, but with ten different games within the slate, we’ve got tons of lineups to create. Contests start at 7 pm EST, so get your lineups set before then.
Must Play SP: Jacob deGrom, NYM ($21,900) vs WAS
In a weird way, deGrom almost feels like a contrarian play as he takes on the Nationals. The Nats are a pretty tough lineup, but deGrom is still an ace and he’s definitely worth playing on Monday. deGrom has been doing his usual deGrom thing so far this year, striking out 18 batters in 17 1/3 innings with a 3.06 ERA. Plus, the Nats lineup is a bit depleted right now due to injuries, so they’re rolling out guys like Moises Sierra right now. Aaron Nola is the only other ace pitching tonight, and he gets a tough ballpark in Atlanta, so deGrom is the guy to build your lineup around if you’re gonna spend big on pitching.
Honorable Mention: Hyun-Jin Ryu, LAD ($18,800) at SD
Value SP: Blake Snell, TB ($15,200) vs TEX
I absolutely love Snell today as he takes on the Rangers. We saw the kind of insane upside that he has in his last start against the White Sox where he struck out 10 with one earned run in six innings. Snell can be a bit volatile, as evidenced by the five walks, so he’s a better play in GPP tournaments. The Rangers have been weak (in a small sample) against lefties this year, as their .293 wOBA versus southpaws ranks them 22nd in the league. Snell is also at home in one of the most pitcher-friendly environments in the league.
Honorable Mention: James Paxton, SEA ($15,000) vs HOU
IF Carlos Santana, PHI ($8,000) at ATL (RHP Julio Teheran)
Braves starter Julio Teheran is awful at home, as Atlanta’s ballpark plays as very hitter-friendly. His home ERA last year was 5.86, and he’s rocking a 10.13 ERA in his two starts at home this season. Santana is off to a poor start, but if you’re a Statcast guy/gal, he’s in the 98th percentile of hard-hit rate this year. And if you’re a common sense fantasy player, you’ll know that a two week sample doesn’t matter much, and that Santana’s 117 wRC+ last season is more representative of the kind of hitter he is. Santana has walked just as many times as he’s struck out this season, making him a great cash game play for his high floor.
Honorable Mention: IF Cody Bellinger, LAD ($8,000) at SD (Erlin)
OF Marcell Ozuna, STL ($8,400) at CHC (RHP Tyler Chatwood)
The wind is going to be blowing out at Wrigley Field on Monday, which means that hitters like Ozuna are going to have an easy time hitting some homers. Ozuna hit 37 of them last year, and his cold start presents a nice buy-low opportunity as the Cards cleanup hitter. Tyler Chatwood hasn’t had a very nice time in 2018, putting up a 4.91 ERA through his first two starts with seven walks already.
Honorable Mention: OF Michael Brantley, CLE ($7,200) vs TOR (Stroman)
Value: OF Steve Pearce, TOR ($5,600) at KC (LHP Eric Skoglund)
Pearce is the cheapest leadoff man you’ll find when the Blue Jays face a lefty. Not only is Pearce facing a lefty, but he’s facing an awful one, so he should have lots of production. He’ll get plenty of chances for runs, as well as more plate appearances than most other hitters. Skoglund gave up five earned in 4 2/3 innings in his only start of the season. Plug Pearce into your lineup and spend big elsewhere.
Honorable Mention: IF Avisail Garcia, CHW ($6,900) at OAK (Mengden)
Top Stack: Phillies at Braves (RHP Julio Teheran)
As mentioned in the Santana blurb above, Julio Teheran is a pitcher you want to target on Monday’s slate. I like Carlos Santana enough to play him as a standalone since he’s batting second for the Phils, but I’d recommend an entire Phillies stack as well. Odubel Herrera ($7,200) and Cesar Hernandez ($8,500) are two of my favorite plays, as well as Rhys Hoskins ($10,700) if you’ve got some payroll to spare. The Phillies lineup is on an absolute tear right now, and I’d look to play anybody who is starting for them.
Honorable Mention: Cardinals at Chicago (Chatwood)